Xiao He wasn't joking.
The very next day after he finished discussing this matter with Lin Cheng, Qin Song of Xingchen Entertainment was taken away by the police.
It was reportedly during a morning meeting at Xingchen Entertainment.
The originally pot-bellied middle-aged man was still blowing on his tea, listening unhurriedly to a subordinate's work report beside him, when a group of people in uniforms barged right in.
When he saw that group, Qin Song's face immediately turned pale.
He already had a premonition of what was coming.
"Are you Mr. Qin Song?"
The leading police officer's gaze was sharp, directly fixing his eyes on Qin Song.
Qin Song's body went slightly weak, and when he met the officer's gaze, his voice even trembled a bit, but he barely managed to maintain his composure: "Yes, that's me."
"Come with us."
"Alright."
A simple exchange, yet it revealed an infinite amount of information. Qin Song's complexion rapidly turned ashen, as if all was lost, and he slumped into his seat.
Although the police didn't reveal much information, everyone at the conference table was whispering amongst themselves.
Just how fierce the recent power struggles within the group had been, those on the inside could clearly see.
They just never expected the final outcome to arrive so quickly, and so brutally.
In the end, Qin Song maintained his last shred of dignity, hanging his head low as he was directly escorted away by the police.
Very quickly, the incident was photographed by someone with an agenda and posted online, instantly causing an uproar.
Who exactly was Qin Song?
Qin Yuezhang's biological father!
[Huh? Is that the Qin Song I know?]
[? Who?]
[Xingchen Entertainment, Qin Yuezhang's dad.]
[Huh? Isn't Qin Yuezhang the Crown Prince?]
[...I'm really done. Crown Prince is just a figure of speech, the Qing Dynasty fell ages ago, you really think he's the emperor's son? He's a crown prince my ass! It's just that his dad is well-off, so his resources are good.]
[What? Qin Yuezhang's dad got arrested? Then what about him? Won't it affect his upcoming projects?]
[It's fine, isn't their family really powerful? They'll definitely be able to get him out.]
[666, capitalist invasion without me.]
[Impressive, talking about getting someone out just like that. Shouldn't you fans go ask their Old Master if he dares to come out and pull strings? I'm really dying of laughter.]
[Pfft, actually, I've wanted to say this for a long time. Those who keep bragging about Qin Yuezhang's background should first go check the difference between Xingchen Film Industry and Xingchen Entertainment.]
[What do you mean? Is Qin Yuezhang's identity fake?]
[Qin Yuezhang's dad is just someone managing the company on behalf of others. To put it bluntly, he works for Xingchen Film Industry. I'm pointing you to this finance blogger, he'll give you a proper rundown. Don't just assume every president is some domineering CEO!]
[I saw it. He really isn't the Crown Prince of Xingchen Film Industry, but isn't the title of Xingchen Entertainment's top star still valid? We never marketed our young master as the group's eldest young master either.]
[Right. Even if Qin Yuezhang is just the Crown Prince of Xingchen Entertainment, he's still ultimately more impressive than most people. Haters can stay jealous.]
[...I give up. If the sky falls, the fans' mouths will hold it up.]
That day happened to be when Xiao He was preparing to officially join the "Record of Chasing the Wind" production set.
They received this news while on the road to the filming location in a car.
Lao Qi was driving, Liu Rulan sat in the passenger seat, while Xiao Chen sat next to Xiao He, holding his phone and eagerly sharing the incident as entertainment with everyone: "They say it's because Qin Yuezhang's father illegally misappropriated company assets, and the group's higher-ups reported it to the police."
"Hmph, serves him right!"
Hearing this, Xiao He merely raised an eyebrow slightly and said with an air of nonchalance, "Is that so? That's quite something."
Liu Rulan glanced at Xiao He through the rearview mirror and said to Xiao Chen, "Then I suppose Xingchen Film Industry won't be protecting Qin Yuezhang anymore?"
"The ones who reported it to the police were the higher-ups of Xingchen Film Industry themselves. How could they possibly still protect Qin Yuezhang!" Thinking of all the things Qin Yuezhang had done before, Xiao Chen spat out with contempt, "With his dad arrested, all the personas he built up are collapsing. All that talk about his so-called noble family background is completely different from reality now."
"Qin Yuezhang has offended plenty of people over the years," Liu Rulan said calmly from the front seat. "Just wait and see. His damaging information will definitely all come out soon."
Liu Rulan was very familiar with the nature of people in the domestic entertainment industry.
Sure enough, once Qin Yuezhang's "rich second-generation" fig leaf was torn off, many people in the industry couldn't sit still anymore.
Over the years, Qin Yuezhang had offended far more than just Xiao He.
Without Xiao He needing to lift a finger, Qin Yuezhang, having lost his greatest support, had already become the industry's public enemy.
However, what no one expected was that the first one to publicly expose Qin Yuezhang was actually his previously officially announced fiancée, Zhu Zishan.
[Zhu Zishan: If you all knew that I had to book and pay for the hotel myself in advance every time I met him, you'd also think I had it rough.]
Netizens who saw this post were all typing question marks.
[Huh? Did I read that right? Rubbing my eyes, confirming I didn't misread.]
[Is this something you can tell us netizens?]
[No way, is Qin Yuezhang that stingy? That shouldn't be the case! It's completely unlike his usual personality.]
[Well, you can't say the male side absolutely has to pay for the room, right? No one stipulates it has to be that way!]
Zhu Zishan personally replied to this netizen.
[Zhu Zishan: Every single time, it was me paying, including for the balloons.]
[???]
Netizens were shocked once more.
Wait, is this something you can say?
No, wait, this is just ridiculous. Qin Yuezhang even made the female side buy *that*?
Holy crap, who can believe this?
[Oh my god, really? I'm dumbfounded.]
[Ran Xiaobai: It's true. He also said his identity was special and he couldn't register, so every time it was registered under the female side's name. I thought he was only like that with me, turns out he's the same with others.]
[Hmm? This familiar ID? Oh crap, Ran Xiaobai? If I remember correctly, she was also Qin Yuezhang's ex, right? She was an internet celebrity before. After their relationship was exposed, his fans went crazy cyberbullying the female side, ultimately driving her into depression and leaving the industry.]
[It's really her! I'm shocked!]
[So who does he really think he is? 'Identity special,' afraid to leave a trace. I'm really going to die laughing.]
[Zhu Zishan: Don't die laughing yet. His agent would check the room before every session and after every session. Everything used would be taken away. Super vigilant.]
[???]
No, we're just netizens. Is this kind of exposure really okay for us to see? Isn't it a bit too explosive?
I'm genuinely dumbfounded. Can you stop just exposing and give some evidence? I have a friend who really wants to munch on melon seeds.
*Ahem, while having netizens play judge might be a bit improper, I can also sample a bit of this fresh melon.]
Xiao Chen gasped sharply and quickly shared with everyone, "Damn, Qin Yuezhang's family at least has money! Yet when he went out with the female side, he never spent his own money to get things done?"
The others in the car: ...
The corner of Xiao He's mouth twitched, and he silently pulled out his phone.
This was precisely why he hadn't taken direct action against Qin Yuezhang himself.
Xiao He simply didn't believe that with Qin Yuezhang's personality, there weren't others in the industry who held grudges against him.
The melons that would explode then would be far more spectacular than anything he could dig up himself.
Look, this opening move is a royal flush. Xiao He wouldn't go investigating this sort of thing himself. It has to be Qin Yuezhang's exes who are truly powerful.
Sharing joy is better than enjoying it alone.
*Ahem*, let him see what's going on.